I recently inherited my grandfather's nice 1989 F-250. I remember when he bought it new off the lot. It has about 100,500 miles on it.

It has been literally been sitting in a barn about 7 years. About 6 months ago we moved it across the farm. It would not idle very well at first but it drove OK. After driving it idled better. Then we let it sit there about 6 months.

Now the time came to move it to my place and it would not start at all so we hauled it. A little whiff of hydrocarbons in the intake and it started and revved to about 2500 RPM while holding the throttle, then it slowly died out. Now as it sits it will not do anything but barely idle on 1 or 2 cylinders and die. Opening the throttle any makes it die worse. Another little whiff in the intake and it will run on the fuel provided but dies as soon as it is gone.

Behavior is the same on either tank.

I am not real familiar with the fuel system on this vehicle but it seems like a no brainer that it is gummed up in some way. I suppose step 1 is to find and change the fuel filter. In my imagination the injectors (MPI) have crud at their inlets not letting fuel in and need to be cleaned or replaced.

What do you all suggest as first steps?

Thanks
Birken

 

Fuel filter would be needed. I would probably pump out all that old gas and get new. Hopefully, the filter stopped most of what was in the tank. I'd say go from there. Plugs, wires, filters, oil change should all be done just because it has sit for so long. Wouldn't hurt to pop off the cap and see what is growing under there as well. Some of those things may help anyway. At least that's a starting point.

 

Do you hear the fuel pumps run when you turn the key to RUN (not start)? Should run for about 1 second, then stop.

 

I can hear a small pump run for a 3/4 of a second, it sounds like it lugs down shortly before it shuts off. It sounds the same on front or rear tank.

Does this truck have a pump in each tank or is there one pump after the fuel selector valve?

What would happens if the fuel filter is plugged up solid? On fuel injected vehicles I have messed with in the past the fuel pump could really pump some high pressure.

Where would be a good place to break into the fuel line and see how much is flowing and/or pump the old gunk into a bucket, and the wire that goes along with it? Does anyone have a copy of the manual for this stuff?

Thanks
Birken

 

Part of it is the ethanol in the current fuel stream: If you let gasoline with ethanol sit for a long period, it absorbs moisture from the air (hygroscopic) and then separates from the gasoline... Additionally, you may have the other problems of gumming, etc from the old fuel: I brought my truck out of a 7 year parking status a few months ago, and have cleaned the injectors, replaced the fuel pressure regulator, fuel filter, and done a number of other things bringing her fully back on line...

You can check fuel pressure directly from the line- the fuel rail has a black plastic cap near the number 5 cylinder(left front) which you can attach a pressure gauge to... If you do a search here, you should be able to find a good number of articles on the fuel system...

They're great trucks- and will eventually "come back from the dead" when treated with loving care...

Scott

 

How did you wind up cleaning the injectors? I suspect that is what it will need.

 

Replace the fuel filter and run a couple of bottles of Techron through it. I bet it will start to run better and better. If you can drain the gas, all the better.

 

My son picked up a Bronco that had been sitting for 7 years plus. Got it running, but it slowly died before we could get it moving and we could not restart. New fuel tank and pump just showed up today, but the insides of that tank were nasty.

Here's a pic of the fuel pump. Keep in mind, we got it running with this!

 

There is a very good thread on that here on the FTE site: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...to-thread.html

It is pretty simple & straightforward... The link he gives for the injector kits is no good: however, you can find them on e-bay for around $20.

Scott

 

Now I DEFINITELY want to pull and replace my senders!
Scott

 

Last July I resurrected the F-350 my friend gave me and I drove it back from CA. I had to replace the front fuel pump after it died at the repair shop that repaired the brakes and leaking frost plugs.

When it came to draining out the 37 gallons of 10 year old gasoline in the two tanks I took one look at the $4.50 per gallon price in LA and I said "screw it… I'll take my chances".

After I left LA and headed east I filled the tank every 40-50 miles… never had a problem. Still runs great today.

 

Is there a single inline fuel filter somewhere on these before it gets to the engine? If it were plugged solid what would happen to the electric pump I presume is located in the tanks?

 

Filter is on the frame rail, follow the fuel lines and you will find a big round canister with two plastic clips on each side that can be removed.

 

These trucks have 2 filters one after frame pump and one in duel tank valve look above transfer case shield and see if you have 2 ports and 4 ports canister bolted to frame bottom half un screws and filter inside but more in likely valves are stuck plus strainers on each intank pump

 

Figured it out good enough to get the truck to run, one in tank pump is not running and the other tank was dry. Added gas and switched to that tank and things are looking much better. The pressure pump on the frame rail must have been sucking enough gas through the dead pump to get it to chug a little bit but at least it moves under its own power now.